I Can Devour Spirits

The two bought some cooked food at the deli as usual, picked up two jars of yellow wine from the wine shop, and returned to Yang Zhen’s residence.

In fact, with Duan Rong’s current status, he could easily treat Yang Zhen to a better meal, but he felt that no matter how luxurious the food, it couldn’t compare to their current way of eating.

Just like when as a student, you and your classmates would feast on street-side barbecue, even if you rise to the top later and dine at five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, you’d never recapture that original taste.

The two placed the cooked food on the table, opened a jar of yellow wine, and began eating and drinking.

They chatted casually while drinking.

Duan Rong picked up a piece of pig’s ear, chewing on it as he observed Yang Zhen’s weary expression, casually asking, ”What’s been keeping you busy at the government office lately to be so exhausted?”

Yang Zhen gulped down a large mouthful of yellow wine and exhaled deeply, saying, ”Ah, just various cases... trivial matters of criminals...”

Duan Rong’s expression changed slightly. He continued to prod with questions indirectly, but Yang Zhen didn’t reveal a word about the cases.

Duan Rong understood that Jie Daohan must have instructed him not to talk about the case to anyone.

Duan Rong secretly sighed: Following the Chief Constable, his awareness has certainly changed.

Since he couldn’t get any information, Duan Rong stopped asking and contentedly reminisced with Yang Zhen, chatting idly about amusing incidents from their youth.

The two reminisced and drank, and before long, the two jars of yellow wine were empty...

The table was a mess, and Yang Zhen had already passed out at the table.

Duan Rong was also a bit tipsy. He helped Yang Zhen to his feet, and together they lay horizontally on the bed in the inner room.

The next morning, after breakfast, Yang Zhen went to the government office, and Duan Rong returned to the Escort Agency.

Although Yang Zhen didn’t actually disclose anything, Duan Rong still noticed some clues.

He could almost be certain that there had been no progress in the case.

Because when he asked, Yang Zhen only appeared tired and kept his lips sealed. Duan Rong knew his old friend well; if there was any progress in the case, even if he didn’t say it, there’d be a hint of excitement in his eyes.

But Duan Rong didn’t see it. In Yang Zhen’s eyes, he only saw a sense of defeat and weariness. This indicated that despite all the busy months, the case hadn’t made any progress.

Having roughly understood the situation of the case, Duan Rong was also more certain that neither Jie Daohan nor Fan Yuanhai would focus on someone who was merely an Apprentice Escort Master at the time of the incident.

Having settled his mind, Duan Rong immersed himself in vigorous stance training at the Escort Agency, especially since the news of Tao Rong from the Weapon Shop breaking through to the Great Success Realm still provided a considerable spur.

After several days of intense stance training at the Escort Agency, one morning, after breakfast, he decided to visit the West Gate Mansion to check on Ximen Kankan.

Last time, at Huaying Building with Lan Ying, Ximen Kankan had told Duan Rong that the old man Qin Chong would be returning these few days, and it should be about time.

The alchemical material for cultivating the third layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture was the Ice Toad Cream. He had already asked Ximen Kankan to instruct old Qin to procure it for him.

After achieving the second layer of Fetal Concealment Scripture, the Divine Soul Technique—Divine Sense Projection, which was unlocked, left Duan Rong astonished with its mystical and enigmatic nature.

Therefore, Duan Rong was very much looking forward to the Divine Soul Technique after achieving the third layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture. This anticipation had even surpassed his expectation for enhancing his Spiritual Power.

Ximen Kankan had been quite busy these days too. With Yuan Shouzhi having gone to the Prefecture City, and Ximen Yong being injured, Ximen Kankan took over the daily affairs of the West Gate Mansion.

He treated the injured guards, allocated funeral expenses and compensation to the families of the deceased guards, and consoled the relatives. He had never handled such matters before, and it left him overwhelmed.

Yet Ximen Yong, like a detached shopkeeper, offloaded all the responsibilities onto him.

News that the master stationed at Huaying Building, Huang Gaizu, was involved in the incident was specifically detailed in a letter written by Ximen Yong to Hu Huanhuan. He had initially not wanted to delve further since the Ximen Family also held shares in Huaying Building.

However, Hu Huanhuan still provided a substantial sum for the funeral expenses and compensation for the West Gate guards who had perished this time.

Ximen Kankan distributed all this silver money to the families of the deceased guards, explaining its source. These families thus received two sums of money and were deeply grateful.

Ximen Yong, upon hearing this, praised him highly for handling the matter well.

”There is no wall in the world without wind getting through. If our Ximen Family had retained this money, the families of the deceased guards would eventually find out. We must not lose people’s hearts for the sake of a little money.”

After several days of continuous effort, Ximen Kankan finally managed to settle everything.

On this day, Ximen Kankan was inspecting last month’s accounts from the Herbal Shop that Ximen Yong had someone sent over at the Snow-Embraced Residence when Shi Kang led Duan Rong into the room.

Duan Rong glanced at the account book in front of Ximen Kankan and said, ”Wow... the prodigal son returns, not looking at erotic art but at account books...”

Ximen Kankan, with a mournful face, pursed his lips and said, ”Don’t mention it. I really don’t understand what my father is thinking. Now he’s even handing over the task of auditing the accounts to me?”

Hearing this made Duan Rong’s heart skip a beat. It seemed that the incident at Black Tiger Ridge had indeed affected Ximen Yong internally. He was probably pondering whether Ximen Kankan would be able to quickly take over the Ximen Family’s business if he truly perished at Black Tiger Ridge.

Although his mind was racing, Duan Rong maintained his placid expression and said with a smile, ”Isn’t that great! That means the Ximen Family’s business, after all, has someone to carry it forward!”

Saying this, Duan Rong casually sat down in a nearby Grandmaster’s Chair.

After leading Duan Rong in, Shi Kang quietly exited and quickly headed toward the main courtyard. A few days earlier, Ximen Yong had specifically instructed him that if the Escort Master Duan came to the mansion again, he should be informed immediately.

Duan Rong said, ”Last time you said at Huaying Building that old Qin would be back soon. Did you manage to get the Ice Toad Cream?”

”Oh, right.” Ximen Kankan patted his forehead and said, ”Do you know what Ice Toad Cream is?”

Duan Rong shook his head and said, ”I have no idea.”

With a knowing expression, Ximen Kankan said, ”I figured you wouldn’t know. This stuff is only available in early spring.”

Duan Rong was puzzled, and Ximen Kankan explained, ”It’s the white sweat secreted between the eyebrows of an Ice Toad from the Far North during its hibernation. This item is quite sought after. Once it hits the market in early spring, it’s bought up immediately. Now it’s already summer, and there’s none of it on the market. To get that Ice Toad Cream, you’ll have to wait until next spring.”

Duan Rong sighed, feeling a bit dejected. This item was actually the white sweat secreted between the eyebrows of an Ice Toad from the Far North during hibernation.

It seems the alchemical materials for cultivating the Fetal Concealment Scripture are likely to become more and more rare and harder to procure as one progresses.

As the two were chatting, suddenly Ximen Yong’s personal maid, Mei Qin, came in with a tray.

The tray was covered with a layer of ice, on which lay slices of emerald-like, green fruit cut into segments.

Mei Qin brought the tray straight to Duan Rong, knelt slightly, and said in a soft voice, ”This is the Ice Patterned Melon from the Western Regions. The Patriarch personally sliced one for you, chilled it with ice, and invites Escort Master Duan to enjoy some to ward off the summer heat.”

Duan Rong was slightly taken aback. ”Personally sliced one?”

Ximen Kankan turned to Mei Qin and asked, ”What Ice Patterned Melon? I’ve been so busy lately, I didn’t even get one to cool off?”

Mei Qin was about to respond when suddenly a voice came from the door.

”You eat everything in the mansion every day! What’s there you haven’t had? This one’s sliced for Escort Master Duan!”

It was Ximen Yong standing in the doorway, dressed in loose scholar’s robes, his eyes fixed on Duan Rong as if he were examining some rare, extraordinary treasure.